What do you do after building one of the most iconic beauty brands in the world? If you're Alli Webb, you start over. In this episode, Cris Gordon sits down with the founder of Drybar and Messy to unpack what really changed between building a $275 million business and launching a brand in today's creator-first world. They discuss why authenticity is becoming every brand's biggest advantage, what founders get wrong about building community, the lessons Alli carried from Drybar (and the ones sh...
Jul 29
20 min
Your personal brand is one of the most valuable assets you'll ever build, and it's about so much more than your social media presence. In this solo episode, Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC, breaks down what it really means to have a personal brand and why it matters. Whether you're a founder, executive, creator, or early in your career, these are the practical steps to start building one with intention. If you've ever wondered how to stand out, attract the right opportunities, and become k...
Jul 15
16 min
In today’s episode, Cris sits down with Olga Fleming, CEO of MMC, the communications agency helping brands earn a place in consumers' everyday lives. Olga shares why the strongest brands go beyond awareness and create meaningful rituals, becoming products and services people rely on daily. When a brand successfully integrates into someone’s routine, it transforms customers into true advocates. Together, Cris and Olga explore what it takes to deeply understand your audience, identify unm...
Jul 8
36 min
What separates a business that grows from a business that gets acquired? In this episode, Cris sits down with founder, investor, author, and "Exit Whisperer" Carrie Kerpen to unpack the real lessons behind building, scaling, and selling an 8-figure company. Together, they discuss the biggest mistakes founders make when preparing for an exit, why visibility and PR can impact how buyers perceive your business, the role personal branding plays in increasing company value, an...
Jul 1
42 min
From early-stage startups to seven-figure brands, every founder is asking the same questions: How do I grow? Where is my audience? What actually works in PR today? In this SXSW special, we answer those questions in real time – giving founders just 5 minutes each to unlock smarter, more strategic approaches to visibility, storytelling, and growth. From scaling beyond referrals to refining your brand identity and finding the right rooms, these rapid-fire conversations reveal the patterns,...
Jun 17
45 min
What’s the most powerful metric for your brand? Shares. This week on Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Jen Hayes Lee, Head of Marketing and Content at The Bump, to unpack how she’s built a brand that parents are actively recommending to one another. From scaling one of the most trusted platforms in parenting to fostering a deeply engaged community, Jen shares how a clear understanding of brand values and audience needs has been central to creating content that consist...
Jun 10
51 min
In today’s healthcare landscape, you must have both the expertise AND the ability to communicate it clearly to build genuine trust with your patients. In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris sits down with Dr. Sheila Farhang, double board-certified dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology, to unpack what it really takes to build trust as a medical expert in the digital age. From growing her platform organically over more than a decade to becoming a go-to voice across social me...
Jun 3
53 min
What does it take to build a brand story that goes beyond surface level in the beauty industry? In this episode, Lisa Hanna, former Miss World, global political leader, and now beauty founder, shares why understanding the entire industry is the foundation for building a brand that truly stands out. After decades on the world stage and in government, Lisa entered the beauty industry to build something with meaning. And that meant learning every layer of the business, from formulati...
May 27
50 min
How do you break through in the crowded supplement market where new products are getting launched left and right? In this episode, Bridgitte Malinson, founder of Gut Personal, breaks down how she built a cult-favorite wellness brand by blending clinical credibility with community-first marketing. From strategic PR placements to organic storytelling, she focused on building trust through earned media and expert validation, positioning the brand as both authoritative and approachab...
May 20
37 min
You’re posting consistently, so why isn’t anyone sticking around? Most founders think they need better content. In reality, they’re over-editing, overthinking, and filtering out the very thing that makes people care. In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Lilliana Vazquez (former TODAY Show + E! host turned creator) shares what turns content into community, and why it has nothing to do with being perfect. We get into the risks of showing up fully, how to handle criticism, an...
May 13
56 min
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